In Burundi, many former child soldiers who underwent vocational training are yet to find gainful employment or set up income-generating activities. Photo: Désiré Nimubona/IRIN

“My father is old. At home we did not have enough for everyone, so I wanted to better our situation and join the army to help my family and my mother… After one year with the armed group FSR [Front for the Salvation of the Republic], I became commander of a group of 50 fighters. Maybe I was made the commander because I am literate; I could write and read. Then I had to join the government forces when our commander… decided to join the Chadian government.”